Sharing Success in the Southeast: Promising Programs in Preschool-to-School Transition.

Follman, Caroline

A project on the ways in which children and families move from one learning environment to another works to build awareness of and strengthen transitions in the early childhood years through a series of national and regional conferences and by identifying promising transition programs in five regions of the country. This document describes transition efforts in the Southeast. The first section profiles seven transition programs that are administered or funded by local school districts. The second section highlights three school-based transition programs that strengthen links between preschool programs and the elementary schools which the children in the preschool programs will one day attend. Five comprehensive preschool transition programs are profiled in the third section. These programs embody horizontal transitions that strengthen links between social service providers and early intervention programs at the preschool level. The profiles in the first three sections describe the need that is addressed by the program and the program's innovative approach and components; discuss the program's effectiveness; and provide the name and address of a contact person for the program. The fourth section describes four programs that concern parent involvement and education. A contact person is listed for each program. A list of 28 suggested readings is provided. (BC)